United Ostomy Association, Inc.
Evansville, Indiana Chapter
Re-Route

 
Contents:

LIGHT IT UP!
SELF ESTEEM
TAKING YOUR STOMA FOR A HIKE
UROSTOMY CARE
HEART ATTACK WARNING FOR WOMEN
I WANT TO KNOW!
TRUE OR FALSE!
HELPFUL HINTS FROM EVERYWHERE
VIEW THE GUESTMAP

Re-Route Archive

Volume 30, Number 2  November, 2002

LIGHT IT UP!
Via: Des Moines, The Stoma News Review, The Indianapolis Chapter & Greater Cincinnati Chapter”
A good laugh can improve your health as well as your spirit. Laughing gives practically every organ of the body a good workout. Laughter can banish stress, lighten anxiety and temporarily relieve depression and pain. Laughter contracts your abdominal muscles, giving them a good dose of exercise. It may be good for high blood pressure since it relaxes arteries and improves blood flow. Laughter also burns up a few calories.

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SELF ESTEEM
By: D. Shannon, RN ET, Via: Metro MD & GB News Review
Self esteem is defined as respect or to favorably regard one-self. Generally, a person sees in himself what he wants to see. It makes a great difference what you want to see. In other words, your viewpoint about yourself really matters. In times of adversity, such as illness, many people show disappointment or defeat. Actually, when things go adversely, we may be allowed feelings of depression, guilt, anger and denial. Some short periods of grieving are allowable. Coping with these feelings are gradual. Actually, the person who has misfortune can turn it into opportunity. Your handicaps, your deficiencies, your frustrations, and your defeats may be the very means by which you grow into a much stronger person with even greater self esteem. No one is justified in sitting back and forever assuming himself defeated and unworthy to others. One way to gain esteem is to look from self to the needs of others. Our innerresources are far stronger than we suspect when they are exercised. There are powers at your command that will enable you to face the adversities in your life.

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TAKING YOUR STOMA FOR A HIKE
By: The Honorable Ross Foot, New Orleans, Louisiana
Having just finished an eleven day hike through the mountains with my scout troop and an 18 month old stoma, I offer the following suggestions. Take lots of supplies (pre-cut appliances, adhesive remover, skin gel and cleaning gauze in individual disposable bags. (I mean a lot, there are none on the trail.) Grabbing one complete package is easier than finding all the pieces in the pack and setting up a changing station. In bear country, these are “smellables”, even before they are used, so they need to go up in the bear bag. Make sure you know where they are and keep one package with you during the day. Except the one you are wearing, they all go up at night. Check carefully before climbing into your sleeping bag. Consider a small bear bag with just the supplies so if you need one in the night, you do not have to drop all the crew gear. I suggest one piece drainable pouches with tape. Hip belts run close to the appliance and the chance of accidentally opening a two piece worried me. Make sure its drainable because you can leave the contents in the woods, but you have to pack out the appliance and you don’t want the extra weight. Did I mention bring extra supplies? Depending on stoma placement, you will have to experiment with packs and hip belts. With a 45+ lb. pack, you need to get substantial weight to the hips. A placed stoma may require building a bridge. I tried with built up padding on each side of the appliance, but getting the belt tight enough to bear weight was hard. I found a lower cut belt on an external frame pack that fit under the stoma. This meant the pouch had to ride outside of the clothes. The solution turned into salvation. I sewed a green bandana into a pouch shaped envelope with the front piece an extra 4 inches tall. I then wore a cloth belt above the stoma and tucked the flap over it tying the two corners to each other. This cover would hang out under the shirt, but over the hipbelt. After explaining to the kids they never gave it a second thought and no one else knew what it was. This puts the hip belt against bare skin. Next time, I will wrap the touching part of the belt with cloth or sheep skin. The cover turned out to save the day. I planned two days per pouch with a few extra. The first failed at 30 hours. Quick math let me know I was not going to have enough. Did I say take lots of supplies? With heat being the culprit and sweat under the appliance causing adhesion failure, I found periodic soaking of the cover would create an evaporation based air conditioner. (We were over 11,000 feet so evaporation was very effective.) Appliances lasted up to three days, or until I forgot to wet the pouch cover. This was July, so cooler weather should lessen the problem, but you still have great exertion. Make sure to carry a headlamp style flashlight. Affixing an appliance is a two handed job and at night with bears and mountain lions around,you want to be as quick as possible when standing out alone. We hiked Philmont Scout Ranch and there was no activity I could not do. I chose to skip one strenuous rock climb. One section involved a rock hugging technique described as a “smear” and I was concerned with redefining the term. Two years earlier, we completed a wilderness hike three weeks before my cancer diagnosis. There was a great psychological benefit for my 14 year old son to see Dad as well as before. The scouts now know what we need to remember, an ostomate is not limited in any way. If you have any doubts, go take a hike! About the author: Ross Foot was diagnosed with colo-rectal cancer at age 47. He had colostomy surgery at age 48 at Oschner in New Orleans. He has been a judge for 12 years and was just reelected to another 6 year term. He teaches at the National Judicial College in Reno and handles the training of new judges in Louisiana and runs the La. Judicial Retreat Program. He snow and water skis, plays tennis and hikes. He is active with the Boy Scouts and has served as an adviser to scouts with ostomies. Next year, he is planning a canoe trip to Canada.

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UROSTOMY CARE
Via: Metro Maryland & Rose City Ostomy News, Tyler, TX
The urostomate should keep in mind that the stoma may shrink for several months following surgery. It is important that your appliance fits well so that the skin around the stoma does not become thick and white due to contact with urine. This crust may rub against the stoma, causing bleeding. To cleanse the pouch of crystals, soak it in a solution of 1 part vinegar to 2 parts water. Several glasses of cranberry juice each day will help restore the acid level in your body and there is less crystalization. The urinary pouch should be emptied often. There is no odor when the pouch is kept clean. The portion of the intestine (the ileum) that is used to form the “conduit” is mucous forming, thus it is not unusual nor abnormal to see some mucous in the urine. Before attaching the night drain, leave sufficient urine in the pouch to fill the entire length of the tube. This eliminates air bubbles which prevent a flow through the tube and causes “back-up” problems. Please remember that for best results, you will want to change your appliance first thing in the morning before you eat or drink anything. This may give you some breathing room for a few minutes (when your stoma will not be so active) to get the skin dried off and the new appliance in place. If you bend over and try to be sure all stored liquid is forced out before you begin the change it may also help give you a few minutes of inactivity to complete the change.

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HEART ATTACK WARNING FOR WOMEN
Via: The New Outlook & GB News Review
Popular belief holds that heart attacks afflict mostly men, but heart disease and heart attacks actually claim the lives of more American women than men each year, and pose a greater threat to American women than all forms of cancer combined. Heart attacks producedifferent symptoms in women than in men, which is one reason why they’re often not diagnosed in time and can be so lethal. Cardiologist C. Noel Bairey Merz, MD, suggests that women pay attention to symptoms like persistent indigestion or gas-like pain; dizziness, nausea, or vomiting; unexplained weakness or fatigue; pain or discomfort; and a sense of impending doom. Women over the age of 45 should have their blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol checked each year, as well as treadmill tests or other screening measures if there is a history of heart disease in their families.

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I WANT TO KNOW!
Via: The Indianapolis, IN Chapter
Where does the water go when it doesn’t return with my colostomy evacuation? It is absorbed into your body and then eliminated via urination some time afterwards. When will the stoma heal so that it isn’t red anymore? The red color will not go away. It’s actually a good indication that the stoma is healthy with a good blood supply. What is a simple way to control stoma noise? Two to three tablespoons of applesauce with breakfast seems to control stoma noise and to have a thickening effect on liquid discharge. What foods besides bananas are high in potassium? Bananas are frequently mentioned as a food high in potassium, but potatoes actually contain nearly twice as much. One large banana has 450 milligrams of potassium while a large baked potato with its skin contains 850 milligrams (the skin alone has 235 mg). How may I slow activity before changing my appliance? Some ostomates eat peanut butter or marshmallows before changing the appliance to slow activity before showering or taking a bath. Many urostomates change their appliance early in the morning of the “change” day at a time when urine discharge is less frequent.

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TRUE OR FALSE!
Via: The Ostomatic News, Dallas Area Chapter
Researchers have only recently begun to understand the many, often complex, diseases that affect the digestive system. Accordingly, people are gradually replacing folklore, old wives’ tales, and rumors about the causes and treatments of digestive diseases with accurate, up-to-date information. But misunderstandings still exist, and, while some folklore is harmless, some can be dangerous if it keeps a person from correctly preventing or treating an illness. Listed below are some common misconceptions (fallacies), about digestive diseases, followed by the facts as professionals understand them today. Ulcers — Spicy food and stress cause stomach ulcers.—False. The truth is almost all stomach ulcers are caused either by infection with a bacterium called Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) or by use of pain medications such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen, the so-called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Most H. pylori-related ulcers can be cured with antibiotics. NSAID induced ulcers can be cured with time, stomach-protective medications, antacids, and avoidance of NSAIDs. Spicy food and stress may aggravate ulcer symptoms in some people, but they do not cause ulcers. Heartburn—Smoking a cigarette helps relieve heartburn.— False. Actually, cigarette smoking contributes to heartburn. Heartburn occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter (LES)— a muscle between the esophagus and stomach— relaxes, allowing the acidic contents of the stomach to splash back into the esophagus. Cigarette smoking causes the LES to relax. Bowel Regularity—Bowel regularity means a bowel movement every day.—False. The frequency of bowel movements among normal, healthy people varies from three a day to three a week, and perfectly healthy people may fall outside both ends of this range. Constipation—Habitual use of enemas to treat constipation is harmless.—False. The truth is, habitual use of enemas is not harmless. Over time, enemas can impair the natural muscle action of the intestines, leaving them unable to function normally. An ongoing need for enemas is not normal; you should see a doctor if you find yourself relying on them or any other medication to have a bowel movement. Irritable Bowel Syndrome — Irritable bowel syndrome is a disease.— False. Irritable bowel syndrome is not a disease. It is a functional disorder, which means that there is a problem in how the muscles in the intestines work. Irritable bowel syndrome is characterized by gas, abdominal pain, and diarrhea or constipation, or both. Although the syndrome can cause considerable pain and discomfort, it does not damage the digestive tract as diseases do. Also, irritable bowel syndrome does not lead to more serious digestive diseases later. Celiac Disease—Celiac disease is a rare childhood disease.— False. Celiac disease affects children and adults. At least 1 in 1000 people and, in some populations, 1 in 200 people have celiac disease. Most often, celiac disease first causes symptoms during childhood, usually diarrhea, growth failure, and failure to thrive. But the disease can also first cause symptoms in adults. These symptoms may be vague and therefore attributed to other conditions. Symptoms can include bloating, diarrhea, abdominal pain, skin rash, anemia, and thinning of the bones (osteoporosis). Celiac disease may cause such nonspecific symptoms for several years before rectly diagnosed and treated. People with celiac disease shoul being correctly diagnosed and treated. People with celiac disease should not eat any foods containing gluten, a protein in wheat, rye, barley, and possibly oats, regardless of whether or not they have symptoms. In these people, gluten destroys part of the lining of the small intestine, which interferes with the absorption of nutrients. The damage can occur from even a small amount of gluten, and not everyone has symptoms of damage

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HELPFUL HINTS FROM EVERYWHERE
If the stomahesive paste (karaya paste) becomes hard and will not push through the end of the tube...take a mug/glass and fill half way with water. Then place the mug/glass in your microwave for 45 seconds heating the water. Remove from the microwave and place the tube, cap down in the water, let it set for a few minutes, then remove and dry it off. Your paste is ready to be pushed out of the tube. Vitamins should be taken on a full stomach. Otherwise, they irritate the lining of the stomach and produce the sensation of feeling hungry. Try strong-brewed tea before the purchase of a “diuretic”. Hot tea twice a day will wake up your sluggish kidneys. Tomato juice is lower in cost per cup while providing as much sodium and 5 times more potassium as a low cost alternative to Gatorade. Orange juice is another alternative providing the same amount of sodium and 15 times the amount of potassium. Tea, however, contains approximately the same amount of potassium as Gatorade, but only negligible amounts of sodium. Some people find a large teaspoon of bulk gelatin dissolved in water or lemon juice once a day will firm up a loose stool. If you are taking calcium, medical experts advise taking calcium at night to obtain maximum benefits. During the night, the body depletes calcium in the bones to maintain normal blood levels. Eating Rice Krispies can help slow down the amount of stool, and is a great breakfast choice with a small amount of milk or eaten dry. Emotional pressures and over-all fatigue can cause bowel upsets, especially when traveling. Do not allow yourself to become over tired. Don’t be afraid to shower without your appliance. Soap cannot hurt the stoma. Just remember to rinse well.

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